Despite the wave of opposition against it, the floating islet Canua island, 1,750 m2 fitted out like a private beach, will it soon anchor a stone’s throw from Cannes? According to information from 20 minutes, the giant platform of this new concept in France would still be in a shipyard in La Spezia, Italy, waiting for the last missing parts but above all for the green light from the French authorities. And in particular the conclusions of a security committee meeting last week.
A “go” that detractors, meeting Thursday in Théoule-sur-Mer, a neighboring town of Mandelieu-la-Napoule (Alpes-Maritimes) in front of which the promoters would like to drop anchor, hope to see it fall into the water. “It is now up to the State, the sole decision-maker, to consistently fulfill its commitments in favor of ecology” and to “suspend” the project “before it sets precedent and spreads to the coasts”, declared Hélène Granouillac , president of the local association Terre Bleue.
“Anachronistic and deleterious”
This elected ecologist at the town hall and the metropolis of Nice fears that other structures want to follow suit. She joined the opposition formed several months ago by residents fiercely opposed to what they describe as an “aberration”. “It would be anachronistic and deleterious to authorize this even though Paca has been chosen as a pilot region by the government for ecological planning and Nice will host the United Nations conference on the ocean in 2025”, supports Terre Bleue.
Supported by local politicians, the mayor of Cannes and the president of the regional council, but also by the Minister of Ecological Transition Christophe Béchu, the critics of the project fear the impacts on the marine environment. They also fear the norias of shuttles between the earth and this boat which would offer, among other things, a bar, a restaurant and deckchairs. Officials, who for their part defend the hundred jobs that would be created on an “eco-designed ship”, would like to inaugurate it during the next Cannes Film Festival. In about ten days.